The FBI is playing a significant role in President Trump’s crackdown on criminal aliens, collaborating with Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies across the country. Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll confirmed the bureau’s proactive involvement, stating that special agents in charge of the FBI’s 55 field offices are coordinating with their counterparts at DHS to offer intelligence services and tactical assistance. This collaborative effort extends from major metropolitan areas like New York and Chicago to smaller jurisdictions across the American heartland. The FBI’s commitment underscores the administration’s focus on enforcing Title 8 of the U.S. Code, which governs immigration, apprehension of criminal aliens, and deportation. Driscoll emphasized that the FBI has been actively training its personnel on Title 8 authorities to effectively support DHS operations.
The FBI’s contribution extends beyond simply providing manpower. The bureau brings a wealth of resources to the operation, including SWAT teams, intelligence analysts, and legal experts. This multifaceted approach allows for the targeted apprehension of individuals with known or suspected criminal backgrounds who, until recently, were moving freely within the country. Driscoll highlighted the importance of intelligence gathering, noting that the FBI’s ability to share crucial information with DHS has enabled the identification and detention of high-priority targets. In New York, for example, this collaboration resulted in the apprehension of dozens of individuals. The FBI’s expertise in crisis management coordination also plays a crucial role in supporting the ongoing crackdown.
The partnership between the FBI and DHS is not unprecedented. Driscoll cited a case from the previous year involving a suspected ISIS travel network comprising eight Tajik nationals. The FBI’s swift action in sharing intelligence with DHS allowed CBP to enhance border security measures, including more informed interviews and, where necessary, mandatory detention. ICE was then able to initiate deportation proceedings, preventing potential threats to American citizens. This case exemplifies the effectiveness of interagency collaboration in addressing national security concerns.
The current operation against criminal aliens employs similar investigative strategies. The FBI is working closely with DHS components, including ICE, Homeland Security Investigations, and Border Patrol, to apprehend individuals with criminal records. A recent example from El Paso, Texas, involved the apprehension of a Venezuelan national suspected of operating a human smuggling stash house. This case, while still under investigation, demonstrates the on-the-ground cooperation between agencies. The FBI’s involvement aligns with the warnings issued by Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, who had previously indicated that targeted sweeps for criminal aliens would be a priority for the new administration.
Since President Trump’s inauguration, immigration task forces across the country have apprehended thousands of suspected criminal aliens. ICE reports approximately 5,500 arrests nationwide since last Thursday alone. Among those detained are alleged child predators, gang members, suspected terrorists, and individuals accused of violent crimes. This includes a suspected member of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang, apprehended in New York City after traveling across the country. This individual had been linked to a violent incident in Colorado, highlighting the mobility of these individuals and the importance of a nationwide, coordinated effort to address the issue.
President Trump has proposed sending up to 30,000 dangerous illegal aliens to Guantánamo Bay, citing concerns about the security risks they pose and the potential for their return to the United States if deported to their home countries. Furthermore, the president’s proposed Laken Riley Act, named after a nursing student killed by an illegal immigrant, aims to strengthen immigration enforcement by mandating the detention and deportation of criminal aliens and allowing states to sue if federal immigration laws are not enforced. Despite the FBI’s extensive involvement in this initiative, officials assure that the bureau remains committed to its broader mission of protecting the public from other threats, including terrorism. The appointment of Acting Director Brian Driscoll, a former NCIS agent with experience in SWAT and hostage rescue, underscores the administration’s emphasis on security and law enforcement.
